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Increased brain atrophy and lesion load is associated with stronger lower alpha MEG power in multiple sclerosis patients

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  • Jeroen Van Schependom, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
  • ,
  • Diego Vidaurre
  • Lars Costers, Vrije Universiteit Brussel
  • ,
  • Martin Sjøgård, Université Libre de Bruxelles
  • ,
  • Diana M. Sima, ICOMETRIX NV
  • ,
  • Dirk Smeets, ICOMETRIX NV
  • ,
  • Marie Beatrice D'hooghe, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, National MS Center Melsbroek
  • ,
  • Miguel D'haeseleer, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, National MS Center Melsbroek
  • ,
  • Gustavo Deco, Pompeu Fabra University
  • ,
  • Vincent Wens, Université Libre de Bruxelles
  • ,
  • Xavier De Tiège, Université Libre de Bruxelles
  • ,
  • Serge Goldman, Université Libre de Bruxelles
  • ,
  • Mark Woolrich, University of Oxford
  • ,
  • Guy Nagels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, National MS Center Melsbroek, University of Oxford

In multiple sclerosis, the interplay of neurodegeneration, demyelination and inflammation leads to changes in neurophysiological functioning. This study aims to characterize the relation between reduced brain volumes and spectral power in multiple sclerosis patients and matched healthy subjects. During resting-state eyes closed, we collected magnetoencephalographic data in 67 multiple sclerosis patients and 47 healthy subjects, matched for age and gender. Additionally, we quantified different brain volumes through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). First, a principal component analysis of MRI-derived brain volumes demonstrates that atrophy can be largely described by two components: one overall degenerative component that correlates strongly with different cognitive tests, and one component that mainly captures degeneration of the cortical grey matter that strongly correlates with age. A multimodal correlation analysis indicates that increased brain atrophy and lesion load is accompanied by increased spectral power in the lower alpha (8–10 Hz) in the temporoparietal junction (TPJ). Increased lower alpha power in the TPJ was further associated with worse results on verbal and spatial working memory tests, whereas an increased lower/upper alpha power ratio was associated with slower information processing speed. In conclusion, multiple sclerosis patients with increased brain atrophy, lesion and thalamic volumes demonstrated increased lower alpha power in the TPJ and reduced cognitive abilities.

Original languageEnglish
Article number102632
JournalNeuroImage: Clinical
Volume30
Number of pages8
ISSN2213-1582
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2021

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Author(s)

    Research areas

  • Magnetoencephalography, Multiple sclerosis, Resting state, Spectral power, Structural neuroimaging

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